So, today, I found out you can add a header image to posts, and on my last post the header image ended up being a splash of Ray Chen’s face, because that’s the first video. Alas, I didn’t have the heart to change that one, because who doesn’t love Ray Chen’s face. This one though, I changed, because who doesn’t love our queens Yves and Chuu.
I used up the good opener on the other post cut me some slack here eh.
Wooo Nemi’s talking about K-pop, the only other genre she’s qualified to talk about, woohooo.
K-pop.
Not everyone’s most favourite genre. Some people hate it. Some people love it so much they devote their every waking moment to it. Although the music might be hated, and the industry might have some… questionable standards, sometimes the music it spits out can be quite good.
Albeit singing in a language that is not English, the rigour and standard of the K-pop industry means that oftentimes the songs that come out of these companies can stand up to western pop, and over the past few years, they’ve been going over pretty well with the western media as well, with groups like BlackPink, BTS, and NCT becoming household names.
Today, I will introduce to you various K-Pop songs that caught my eye over the years for various different reasons. Picked out for their unique features, these songs will stand out from the crowd of shrill, in-your-face voices and perfect, silicone-injected human beings.
Note: if the music video or the performance stage doesn't have subs, I've included a subbed video (especially for the ones where I point out the lyrics).
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"Baepsae" by BTS
Ah, household name BTS. Boy band of the year, Top group by Billboard Chart, Audience pick everywhere, winner of 7095 album of the year awards, et cetera, et cetera. I may sound like a grumpy old fan here, but I am correct when I say most people know them by their newer works. And although there is nothing wrong with that, it's nice to take a trip down memory lane every once in a while.
This song from their album series The Most Beautiful Moment in Life is called “Baepsae.” I’m still not really sure what it means, because it’s been translated to mean everything from “silver spoon” to “crow’s tit.” The song tackles the socioeconomic system in South Korea, and how its impossible for someone to move up the ladder, even though everyone touts the option of “working hard.”
But you don’t have to know all that to enjoy the damn good beat and a dance that seems to mock the upper class.
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"Heart Attack" By LOONA
There was going to be some Loona on here. Of course there was, the header is Loona. I adore Loona with my entire soul.
As a group that has been heralded for having gay subtexts all over their lore and music videos and lyrics and everything, this is the one song that has been heralded as the gayest by fans.
The video features Chuu (the one singing the song) following Yves around to various locations and pining for her. At the end, there are some scenes that are… open to various interpretations. The official explanation for this is that “Chuu wants to be like Yves,” but everyone read it as gay, and everyone has been reading it as gay ever since.
As one of the groups that openly support the LGBTQ+ community in a homophobic Korea, Loona brings you a treat for the eyes and ears. (Just look at the comment section it's literally all lesbians)
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"Anpanman" By BTS
I go off on a tangent berating their newer works, and then directly afterwards recommend one of their newer works, hey. In my defense, it's an old-new work.
This song focuses on the want to be a superhero - to give yourself wholly to others and society. The real Anpanman is bean-bun-man-superhero from a Japanese children’s anime who tears off pieces off his bean-bun-head to feed the poor and hungry. In the same way, this song brings you back to the childish want to protect and save everyone.
With a pop art stage and adorable dance moves to match, this song will have you bopping along in no time.
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"Butterfly" By LOONA
There is Loona, again. There is more Loona, can you tell I adore Loona?
BlockBerry Creative (Loona’s company) is filthy rich. This means they can do whatever the heck they want, without having to worry about media coverage and music show wins for money and popularity. And you know what they went and did? They said, representation. And so they represented. Many women, of many kinds, from all over the world, spreading their wings to fly like a butterfly.
They also said let's invent an entire new way of doing tropical house, screw the trends.
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"Twenty-three" by IU
IU is a singer well known to most Koreans and K-pop fans, but hasn’t really broken into the western sphere (unless she has and i just haven’t heard about it which is 100% possible).
Well known at the time for being the “little sister of Korea,” she finally snaps in this song and expresses her conflicting feelings between wanting to stay young forever and fit into the mold that society has given her, and wanting to grow up, break out, and do her own thing.
With an awesome music video full of conflicting visuals and motifs, and an equally awesome, dark sounding beat, this song will catch both your eyes and your ears.
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"I'm so Afraid" and "I'm not Afraid" by Holland
IT’S HOLAND Y’ALL. We saw this coming, we all saw don’t tell me you didn’t.
One of the very few openly gay K-pop idols in a homophobic country, Holland is a very brave man for coming out as gay even before debuting and making a name for himself.
His music reflects his struggles as a gay person in Korea, with his set of songs “I’m so afraid” and “I’m not afraid,” each one exploring opposites sides of his experience. The videos themselves are full of representation of all kinds of people, and the songs will draw you in even if you don’t know the backstory behind any of it.
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"Good Night" By Dream Catcher
Ugh, K-pop.
When you hear that word what comes to mind perfect men and women dancing and singing to cringy headache-giving shrill bubble-gum pop. Am I wrong?
WELL I AM WRONG NOW because Dreamcatcher said screw that crap, we’re gonna do METAL.
And metal they did. Almost every single one of their albums has their signature blend of rock, pop metal, and of course, K-pop. You could honestly listen to any one of them and be amazed, “Good Night” is just my favourite.
Feast your eyes on the beautiful imagery of the music video as your ears get banged to death by electric guitar, here is Dreamcatcher’s “Good Night.”
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"Love Whisper" By Gfriend
So let's talk dance. Specifically choreographers. BTS is known for having some of the most demanding dances ever, and as a result, they have to hire pretty amazing choreographers to outdo themselves every time.
Gfriend is known as the girl version of BTS when it comes to dancing (at least they used to be at the time this song came out, not sure if they still are), and they hired one of BTS’s choreographers to choreograph this dance.
Okay cool, what’s the big deal here.
They perform this dance. Entirely in WATER.
It makes for some really cool camera shots, but imagine dancing an entire 3 minute choreography, in a nearly ankle high pool of water.
Yeah, Gfriend did that.
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As always, I have made a Spotify Playlist for easy listening, but K-pop is really a visual medium as much as it is an auditory one, so I really really recommend watching the videos to augment your experience.
I hope this time of lock down is one you can use to open yourself up to new experiences, and perhaps introduce new experiences to other people!
If you have any songs or genres you’d like me to explore (because I’ve exhausted all the ones I’m qualified to talk about) you can pop us a tweet or a DM at our brand new social media accounts!
TWT: @Q_uaranteen
IG: @Q_uaranteen
They’re both the same, so you can remember it easily.
We wish you a healthy time during this time, and for now
Anemone out ;)